During the seasons of 1876 and 1877 Harvard pitcher Harold Ernst had developed a phenomenal curveball that made him extremely difficult for catchers to handle. Tired of repeatedly taking foul balls to the face, catcher James Tyng approached Harvard captain Fred Thayer and requested additional protection, refusing to get behind the plate until something could be done. This prompted Thayer to more fully develop a mask concept he had been toying with, ultimately leading to the creation of the very first catcher's mask and a revolution in catching equipment that arguably continues to this day.

The presented 4x6 cabinet photograph of Harold Ernst has been removed from an album of the period where it sat loosely in a paper sleeve with a window for viewing. Undoubtedly, this has helped to preserve both the photo and mount as the clarity of the image, condition of the photograph, and condition of the mount are all exceptional. Mount exhibits a hint of toning, with studio photographer G.W. Pach's logo applied to verso along with a few pencil notations.